Big protests in Spain against health care reform

Medical workers in Barcelona take part in a demonstration against plans to cut medical spending and privatise hospital services. Photo: AFP

Thousands of demonstrators have marched through the streets of 16 Spanish cities Sunday to protest plans to part-privatise the public health care system, with some questioning the government's motives.

It was the third "white tide" demonstration in Madrid, named after the colour of the medical scrubs many protesters wear.

But it was the first time cities other than the capital took part, including Barcelona, Cuenca, Murcia, Pamplona, Toledo and Zaragoza.

Protesters marched carrying banners saying "Public health is not to be sold, it's to be defended".

Some indebted ones, like Madrid, have announced the part-privatisation of some services, with some people openly suspicious that the move is more a political-motivated ploy than an attempt to cut costs.

Civil servant Javier Tarabilla, 31, said Spain's welfare state was being dismantled to be handed over to the private sector.

"This is pillaging of our public services, looting something we've all contributed to through taxes, to give it to private companies to run for profit," he said.

Madrid regional health councillor Javier Fernandez-Lasquetty has called the protests irresponsible, saying public money savings were essential to lift Spain out of debt and onto the road of economic recovery.

"These protests create conflict and are not in the interest of public health, but they do favour the interests of those who organise them," Fernandez-Lasquetty said.